Friday, August 23, 2002
Worcester knocks off Harlem
Will face Louisville in U.S. final
By DAN LEWERENZ
Associated Press Writer
SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — An intentional walk had taken the bat out of the hands of Worcester's power hitter. Along came Ryan Griffin.
His three-run homer in the bottom of the sixth inning gave Worcester, Mass., a 5-2 victory over Harlem, N.Y., on Thursday night in a U.S. semifinal at the Little League World Series.
“I couldn't believe it was going — I couldn't believe the game ended like that,” Griffin said. “I was just trying to hit it into a gap in left or right field.”
Gordie Lockbaum walked to lead off the sixth inning and Frank Flynn, who hit Worcester's only home run of the tournament, was intentionally walked. After one out, Griffin battled through an eight-pitch at-bat and sent the ball sailing over the right field wall.
Harlem right fielder Fernando Frias threw his hat near the fence in obvious disappointment, and then came Worcester's celebration at home plate.
“Ryan, the last couple games, has been putting it into the dirt,” Worcester manager Fran Granger said. “We worked on that and worked on it. Tonight, it paid off.”
Worcester will play Louisville, Ky., in Saturday's U.S. championship game.
The international championship will feature Willemstad, Curacao, Netherlands Antilles, against Sendai, Japan. Curacao beat Valencia, Venezuela, 3-0 Thursday.
Harlem, which took a lot of criticism over showboating in earlier games, was swinging for the fences in the top of the sixth, but Jeremy Lopez grounded out and Alibay Barkley and Javier Lopez were struck out by Keith Landers.
“That has been our nemesis, if you will, the off-speed pitch — and it reared its head again,” Harlem manager Morris McWilliams said.
Harlem took a 2-0 lead in the third on RBI-singles by Jorge Lopez and Frias. Harlem had the bases loaded with two outs, but Spencer White flied deep to left to end the inning.
Worcester tied it in the bottom of the inning on a sacrifice fly by Flynn and a passed ball.
Harlem loaded the bases again in the fourth, and then had runners at first and third in the fifth.
The Harlem team was cleared to play in the World Series just days before it started after providing documents showing that its players met residency requirements.
The game started about 20 minutes late because of rain and was delayed briefly in the second inning when Harlem's Ralph Rodriguez was stung by a bee in left field. He returned to finish the inning.
Netherlands Antilles 3, Venezuela 0
Dennis Neuman threw a one-hitter for Netherlands Antilles (3-1). Neuman (2-0) struck out nine, including the side in the top of the sixth to end the game.
Curacao scored two runs in the bottom of the first on bases-loaded walks. Rudney Balentien doubled to left, then advanced and scored on two infield errors to give Curacao a 3-0 lead in the third.
Eduardo Mendez (1-1) struck out nine for Venezuela (2-2).
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